Wichita South High School senior Hanie Baayoun was recently named the Linwood Sexton Scholarship recipient at Wichita State University for 2011-2012.
The four-year scholarship provides full tuition, books, fees and on-campus housing, and has opened the door for Baayoun to attain a college education.
Baayoun is described by his high school counselor as a student “always striving for excellence and personal growth.”
A student leader
At Wichita South, Baayoun carries a 4.0 grade point average while working part-time and engaging in school activities. He lettered in both cross country and wrestling and participated in jazz band, marching and concert band and pep band. He serves as a student leader at South.
Baayoun describes one of his most life changing experiences as his involvement in the 2010 Wichita River Festival as a Prairie Schooner Mate where he increased his leadership skills by serving as an ambassador for South High. He expressed admiration for his community, the volunteers and the hard work and dedication involved in planning such a large-scale community event.
Baayoun looks forward to attending Wichita State in the fall and plans to major in engineering.
His impressions of WSU through visits and various interactions makes him “believe that not only will I receive one of the best educations, but I will also have one of the best and most memorable experiences of my life while attending.”
As a junior, Baayoun was a member of the inaugural class of the Shocker Leadership Academy, a unique enterprise geared toward developing and enhancing leadership skills of area high school juniors.
Baayoun has also been named a 2011-2012 WSU Dean's Scholar.
Scholarship history
The Sexton Scholarship was established in 2000 to honor its namesake, Linwood Sexton.
Sexton, a Wichita State legend in football, is a member of the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame and Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. An untiring advocate for equal opportunity and social justice, he has been honored with many awards for his efforts in promoting understanding and respect among people of different racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Incoming freshman applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and demonstrate financial need. All students are eligible to apply, but preference is given to minority students.
The scholarship is automatically renewed as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic progress. The application review process is completed by Sexton and staff representatives from Campus Life & University Relations as well as faculty from the W. Frank Barton School of Business and the College of Education.
Each applicant is required to submit various scholarship materials, including a one-page essay on why he/she should be the recipient of the award.